September 27, 2009

The Saints shattered Terrell Owens' streak of 185 straight games with a catch. The much-improved secondary shut him out. Bravo, Gregg Williams. It was a big game for him, returning to the city where he was fired as head coach. Sean Payton gave him the game ball, well deserved.

RB Reggie Bush deserves from some credit for being asked to carry the ball as a starting, full-time runningback. He did a decent job running conventional run plays, averaging 4.9 yards per carry on 13 carries, including a 14-yard pickup on an end-around when the versatile Bush lined up wide to the left. He also collected three passes for 17 yards, though he was stuck short on a fourth and two play when Brees' outlet pass to him was late after he stumbled away from center. Bush also had a 17-yard rush on a shotgun draw. His punt returns were also bottled up by the Bills, as four returns netted four yards. One of them was a nine yard return, telling you that once again Bush spent most of his punt returns running the wrong way.

The Saints are 3-0 and on top of the NFC South. Atlanta lost to New England and is 2-1, and both Carolina and Tampa Bay are winless. The Panthers play Monday night.

The last time the Saints started 3-0 was 2006, and they followed it up by getting beaten up by Carolina in week 4. A late Marques Colston touchdown made that 18-21 loss look respectable. Prior to that, the 2002 Saints also started 3-0 and ended up losing to a winless Lions team in week four. Prior to that, the 1998 Saints started 3-0 and lost the next week to Drew Bledsoe, Robert Edwards and the Patriots.

Go back to 1995 to see the Saints start 3-0 and make it to 4-0, when the Saints beat Houston, Atlanta and Detroit before beating the 49ers at home on a late Morten Andersen field goal. The Saints actually went 5-0 in 1995 before eventually losing to the Steelers in Week 7.

LT Jermon Bushrod appears to be the only injury for the Saints coming out of Buffalo, but the Bills are really hurting especially in their secondary.

Postgame Tweets:

Chase Daniel, after his first NFL game, wrote: "Big win against a very good team on the road! Battle of the unbeatens next week at the dome! HUGE game."

Later, Daniel added: "Just landed in NOLA and was greeted by tons of Saints faithul right off the plane! Amazing sight to see! Such great support! Who Dat"

Billy Miller, recovering from a torn Achilles, wrote: "Damn 3-0 and can still get better! Great job fellas yall look great!"